District 7 Race Heads For Special Election After Results Voided

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A circuit judge voided the results of the 2021 District 7 city council race in Tuscaloosa on Thursday after the winning candidate Cassius Lanier was deemed ineligible to run for elected office due to his past felony record that had not been pardoned prior to him qualifying.

The City of Tuscaloosa will now set a special election date to fill the seat, which was occupied was Sonya McKinstry, following the ruling by Circuit Judge Robert Vance.

McKinstry lost to Lanier on March 2 by 28 votes and immediately challenged the results.

The final order pointed out that Lanier had been convicted of five criminal offenses, including a federal felony and four felonies under Alabama law.

"As of March 2, 2021, he had not been pardoned for any of these offenses," the order reads. "He received a pardon from the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Parole only after the election, on April 13, 2021. Based on the undisputed facts of this case, the threshold question is whether Lanier was ineligible to run for office, thereby requiring that the election be declared void, even though he subsequently obtained a pardon for his past offenses."

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Patch previously reported that Lanier received a pardon for his felony record and the prison time he served. He is now be eligible to run for office after receiving a pardon ahead of the date being set for the special election.

Requests for comment by Patch from McKinstry and Lanier had not been returned at the time of this story's publication.

This is a developing story. We will publish more details as they come available.